KUALA LUMPUR — Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to struggle for the interests of all races in this country and will not sideline any component party even if PAS rejoins the coalition.
BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said BN had no high hopes that PAS would rejoin BN, but the offer by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was made in the interest of the Malay-Muslim community.
“We are firm in UMNO, and have been consistent in our struggle and with the 1Malaysia concept. There’s no problem. We struggle for the religion, race and nation, and at the same time, we look after the lot of all races,” he said when opening the Cheras Umno division’s Youth meeting, here, on Sunday.
Khairy said BN would not feel hurt or sad over PAS’ rejection, but with all sincerity, the door was always open for PAS (to rejoin BN).
“If PAS can cooperate with DAP which it had called satan at one time, what more with the Muslims in Umno?” he added.
The prime minister had during his visit to Terengganu on Saturday said it was time for PAS to leave the opposition pact, particularly DAP, which clearly had never struggled for Islam.
But PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat once again stressed on the party’s stand that it would not quit the pact.
Later, speaking to reporters, Khairy reminded the opposition parties not to twist Najib’s statement on the Chinese community.
“It was not a threat, but the prime minister’s take on the statement by the MCA president himself that they (MCA leaders) would not accept any Cabinet post if they fail to win many parliamentary seats in the elections. This is their stand and their principle,” he said.
In IPOH, Perak Menteri Besar and state BN chairman Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said PAS should accept the reality that its position in the opposition pact was of no benefit to the party, and to weigh their cooperation with the other components with mature thinking.
He said in the DAP-PKR-PAS pact, each party was trying to take advantage of the other for its own political interest.
“Can’t they (PAS) see who have benefited from the pact? PAS expects something from DAP and vice versa, but in end the DAP wins. This fact cannot be denied,” he said after officiating at a state-level Cuepacs’ Workers Day celebration here.
Zambry said PAS leaders and members were also not in one voice on many matters including PAS-DAP cooperation, and they tried to cover this up but it was no longer possible.
In ALOR SETAR, Kedah Umno expressed full support if PAS leaves the opposition pact and move on its own or rejoin BN to look after the lot of the Malay-Muslim community.
“We know that PAS is a party that struggles for Islam, but DAP is not in favour of this. Thus, PAS will not achieve its aim as long as it is in cahoots with DAP,” he said.
